
This month many churches will be reflecting on their Christmas services. How many came? Were there enough seats? Did the timings work? And, most importantly, was the gospel of Jesus Christ communicated clearly?
As the conversation or thoughts go on, you may begin to wonder what you could have done to be more compelling. How many people responded? Perhaps some did. Others may have responded negatively.
But if some responded negatively, should we change how we do it? Or should we at least make sure the tone is set to minimize negative response?
This month, as I was pondering on this, I happened to be reading Justin Brierley’s book Unbelievable. In this book Brierley reflects on ten years of moderating conversations on topics in Christian apologetics. He says, “two people can be listening to the same conversations for years on end and still reach very different conclusions.” [1]
The conversations in mind are those he moderated in his popular radio program/podcast with some of the best known Christian apologists. And yet, when the conversation is as good as it gets, there is still a seemingly inevitable division in how people respond. What’s going on?
It’s all too easy in our ‘practical’ reflections to leave theology at the door. And when it comes to the topic under discussion we all too easily forget that “every belief presupposes an ethical value judgement”.[2] That is, two people can listen to the same conversation for years and come to different conclusions not because the realities are different but because they’re perceived differently. And they’re perceived differently because of precommitments. Put most simply: sin affects human thinking.
So what? This side of Christmas, don’t neglect praying for it.
We are often good at praying before events but let’s continue to pray for the Lord to be at work changing hearts and minds all year round.
Whether we’ve spent time reflecting deeply on theology or not, every time we open our mouths in prayer we assume that our personal triune God is willing and able to listen. And not only listening, but that he’s sovereign even over hearts and, therefore, minds. [3]
If you pray for the Lord to work then you’ve assumed a lot of good theology whether you’ve put it into words or not!
The value of putting it into words and the reason for doing so here is that, as we reflect on our Christmas, we remember that our offerings are the means used of God for his glory. That we mustn’t forget that what really counts is God being at work.
So, let’s continue to pray. Because our God is willing and able. As Thomas Chalmers put it, prayer is “a real interchange that takes place between the parties – the two terms of a sequence, in fact, whereof the antecedent is a prayer lifted from earth, and the consequent is the fulfilment of that prayer in virtue of a mandate from heaven.” [4]
Some will respond at Christmas others won't. What else should we expect, some responded positively to Jesus others didn’t. We want, of course, always to offer our best but let’s not neglect our “real interchange” with the living God who calls people to himself.
Let’s not forget that for lives to be changed it requires a “mandate from heaven” and our role is to offer “prayer lifted from earth”.
Footnotes
[1] Justin Brierley, Unbelievable? Why after Ten Years of Talking with Atheists, I’m Still a Christian (SPCK, 2017), p. 19f.
[2] John M. Frame, The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God, A Theology of Lordship (Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co, 1987), p. 109.
[3] Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology. Volume 3 (James Clarke & Co, 1960), p. 692f.
[4] Thomas Chalmers, Works, Volume 2 (William Collins, 1836), p. 321.
_____________
Benjamin Lucas trained at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford and has an MA in Theology with the University of Wales. He is married to Emily and they have three children. He is the Associate Vicar at All Saints' Lindfield.
Views expressed in blogs published by the Latimer Trust are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Latimer Trust.